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Dr. Richard Konteh testified in the Freetown High Court on Monday, dismissing claims that he received $8,000 for a land transaction and alleging that the legal action against him is rooted in blackmail.
Appearing before Justice Manuella Harding, Dr. Konteh presented his defense in a long-standing property dispute with his relative, Marie Sesay. The plaintiff, represented by her sister Florence Turay, alleges she paid $8,000 into Dr. Konteh’s U.S. bank account for a four-town lot located at Mamah Street, Gloucester.
Led by counsel DTM Gbondo, Dr. Konteh testified that while he provided his bank details to the plaintiff in 2009, no such payment was ever confirmed. He stated he had offered to “pre-finance” the purchase of a two-town lot as a gesture of family assistance.
“She didn’t give me money,” Dr. Konteh told the court. “I only gave her my account details and told her to pay the money into the said account when available.”
According to Dr. Konteh’s testimony:
Initial Request: In 2009, the plaintiff requested help securing a two-town lot in Freetown. Dr. Konteh estimated the cost for the land, documentation, and fencing would be approximately $8,000.
Property Selection: After the plaintiff rejected an initial plot in the Tree Planting area for being “underdeveloped,” Dr. Konteh agreed to sell her two towns of a four-town plot he owned in Gloucester.
Conveyance: In 2011, Dr. Konteh reportedly sent the legal conveyances for the two-town plot to a mutual relative in the U.S., which he claims the plaintiff received without objection.
Dr. Konteh testified that the dispute escalated in 2019 when the plaintiff expressed interest in acquiring the entire four-town property. He claimed that after he refused to sell the remaining two towns—which he intended to use for a student hostel—the plaintiff’s representatives attempted to forcefully take over the land.
He alleged that Florence Turay arrived at the site with “police and thugs” to disrupt the construction of a perimeter fence and began digging a well on his portion of the property.
The court heard that multiple family members, including Dr. Konteh’s wife, attempted to mediate the conflict. Dr. Konteh stated he offered the plaintiff a different four-town plot in the same neighborhood to settle the matter, but the offer was rejected.
“The offer is no longer on the table because she had resorted to blackmail,” Dr. Konteh concluded.
The matter remains adjourned as the court continues to hear evidence from the defense.
